31 December 2012

As we bid adieu to another year, it's time to wrap up the highlights of one sparkly year in the Queen's jewel vault: the brooches, the tiaras, the surprises, and more.

The Most Popular Brooches

Obviously, it's impossible for us to make a 100% accurate inventory of all the brooches the Queen wore in 2012. There are just too many events where the brooch can't be seen, or can't be positively identified (not to mention all the events we didn't see at all). But since I take my jewel nerd status seriously, I tallied up those I could identify - as cataloged right here on the blog - and this year's favorites are (drumroll, please)...

The Frosted Sunflower and Jardine Star had strong starts to the year, while the Aquamarine Clips ruled the après-Balmoral scene. Apart from those it was a pretty well-rounded year, brooch-wise, with plenty of surprises.

Her Maj gifted us with several outings of brooches which I'd never seen before. Whether that means they are new to her or just had the vault dust swept off, we - the brooch appreciating general public - do not know. We do know for sure that she received at least three brooches to mark her Diamond Jubilee:

Of the three, we've only seen her wear the BJA brooch (on Christmas Day). I'm anticipating the Chelsea Iris for the 2013 Chelsea Flower Show, and we probably won't see the Canadian brooch until the Queen does something involving that regiment.

Biggest Brooch Omission

Did we really go this whole year without a sighting of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee Brooch? Granted, it wasn't exactly a favorite before...but still! (This was my guess for the Christmas message, by the way. Good thing I don't really bet on these things.)

So often, the Queen's day to day wardrobe is utterly predictable: three row pearl necklace, button earrings, brooch, repeat. My favorite appearances this year weren't the tiara ones (believe it or not), but the ones when the daily uniform was thrown out the window in favor of some serious bling. Obviously, her Jubilee airing of Granny's massive chips was epic - based on her brooch history, it wouldn't surprise me if this is the last time we see it in her reign. But I also loved her appearance at the Olympics, so unexpectedly over the top in sparkle. She showed up to reign, and with her Bond girl appearance, reign she did.

Which of the Queen's jeweled moments were your favorites in 2012?

What's Coming in 2013: In 2012, we built a pretty good record of what the Queen wears on a daily basis by cataloging her jewels as she wore them. In 2013, we'll be moving beyond that - look for more jewel features sprinkled here and there that aren't related to what the Queen's been wearing, in addition to the Queen's current events (and current jewels). Plus maybe a few other things, you never know. I hope you'll stick around for another sparkly year!

25 December 2012

The Queen, accompanied by members of the Royal Family, attended Christmas service at St. Mary Magdalene Church, Sandringham.

Click above to see an article with pictures and video from the Daily Mail.

Well, that was quick! The Queen has debuted her Jubilee present from the British Jewellers' Association, a modern take on a dove. Click the link below for more. It'll never be my favorite (most modern pieces aren't), but it is quite impressively sized.

21 December 2012

These diamond and platinum earrings are another example of the multiple changes Queen Mary made to her jewels. The large central stones are the Mackinnon diamonds, a pair of solitaire earrings that were a wedding gift from Sir William Mackinnon to Mary for her wedding in 1893.

The stones were then set as the center of another pair, Queen Mary's Cluster Earrings. Later on, they were replaced and a new setting was created by Garrard, Queen Mary's Floret Earrings. In their new setting, each one is surrounded by seven slightly smaller diamonds.

The earrings were inherited by the Queen on Queen Mary's death in 1953. She wears them for occasions like the State Opening of Parliament, the Garter Day ceremony, and other formal events.

This batch of past events brings us up to the start of 2012, which is our end for now. These posts are dated back to when they
actually occurred, so they don't appear on the front page of the blog.
In case you missed them, here are the latest past event and jewel
updates:

18 December 2012

The Queen visited Downing Street and, for the first time in her reign, attended a cabinet meeting.

Click above for an article with video and photographs from The Telegraph.

So they gave her placemats. Sixty placemats. A gift suggested by the palace and all handmade and fancy...but that doesn't mean I won't still pretend they're the sticky printed plastic ones, just for fun.

13 December 2012

The Queen, accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, toured the Bank of England.

Click above to see a video and article from Sky News

The DoE was in particularly fine form today. On the financial crisis: "Don't do it again!" When asked to sign an unissued £1 million note: “Is this just lying about? You won’t miss it, will you?” All that's missing is a foiled attempt to slip a gold bar into Lilibet's purse. Bless him. (And bless her for asking questions about the crisis, which is what's making headlines from this visit. Shouldn't we all be asking a few questions, hmm?)

07 December 2012

The Queen has received many official gifts, including jewels, over the course of her life. I suppose one might reach a point at which it becomes commonplace, but at the beginning, it's something special. This brooch is one of those first gifts, and it seems to have retained a special status in the Queen’s collection.

The Sapphire Chrysanthemum Brooch, a chrysanthemum with diamond petals and a center of multiple sapphires, all set in platinum, was a gift to then-Princess Elizabeth for launching the British Princess oil tanker in 1946. The brooch was given by Sir James Laing & Sons Limited and the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company Limited. She wore it often in the early years, before her collection grew.

The brooch has made a few notable appearances, including for Princess Anne’s christening and famously for both the honeymoon photo and recreation of that photo for the 60th wedding anniversary of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh. The Queen continues to wear the brooch today.

As time allows, I add events and jewels worn in the past by the Queen.
I'm currently working my way back through the 2012 events which occurred
before the blog started. These posts are dated back to when they
actually occurred, so they don't appear on the front page of the blog.
In case you missed them, here are the latest past event and jewel
updates:

The British Jewellers’ Association (BJA) presented the Queen with this brooch made of diamonds, platinum, and gold to celebrate her Diamond Jubilee. A contest was held to select the brooch, and the winning design came from Ivonna Poplanska. According to the BJA:

"Her design entitled ‘The Eternal Dove’ is loosely based on the 'Sceptre
with Dove’ an item in the Crown Jewels which, was made for the
Coronation of King Charles 11 in 1661. The dove, which is in flight,
encompasses four flowers –the shamrock, the daffodil, the thistle and
the rose - chosen to represent the countries of the United Kingdom.
These are made in rare Irish, Welsh, Scottish and English gold which has
been donated by enthusiastic local prospectors. Natural coloured
diamonds have been used to highlight these flowers. Entwined holly
leaves also feature in the design symbolising unity, while the dove
stands for peace. "

The materials and craftsmanship required to create the graceful brooch were donated, and the final product was presented to the Queen on December 5, 2012, and first worn on Christmas Day.